Knowsley MBC - Procurement Services

The Council’s resilient and high speed Metropolitan Area Network known as the Community Information Network (CIN) was commissioned in April 2000, and provides efficient data communications to 170 locations supported by an extensive Service Level Agreement (SLA) driven managed service. Whilst the CIN is capable of carrying all traffic types the Council opted for a separate Centrex service for the delivery of its voice services; The Knowsley Centrex Network (KCN) provides telephony to over 2500 handset’s across the Council. With the contract for the CIN and KCN up for renewal, the Council wanted to procure a new network or upgrade the existing network services such that it would meet requirements for the next five years.

“We are delighted with the professional approach Imerja has applied in all its work for the Council, and in its constant adaptability and willingness to work with us rather than for us”

Head of ICT and Director of eBusiness
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

A combination of external pressures and the Council’s political programme caused the scheduled timescales for the procurement to be shortened late in the current contract term. As a result the entire exercise had to be fast tracked and incredibly tight timescales adhered to throughout. With formal sign off required at key stages of the process it was important that every element of the procurement was precise, concise, open to scrutiny and at all times offering the Council best value.

With key members of Imerja providing design services, project management and procurement for the original £8m WAN infrastructure it was recognised that Imerja would bring significant value to the planned upgrade/replacement to the infrastructure moving forward. As a result Imerja was appointed to provide professional consultancy services for the scoping, design and procurement of the replacement/upgrade of the 170 node network. Imerja provided comprehensive security and infrastructure technical design services alongside managing the full OJEU procurement of the proposed program of works.

Imerja adopted a totally open and transparent approach throughout the procurement producing regular updates and reports to the Council. Each stage of the process was clearly documented and agreed before proceeding to the next.

Working in close partnership with the Council on this fast track procurement exercise Imerja identified a strategic supplier that would provide the Council with significant savings over the term of the contract. In addition, recommendations made by Imerja and included in the SOR for the overall network design and service delivery provided the Council with an enhanced service compared to its existing contract. Securing a better service at a significantly lower cost enabled to Council to clearly demonstrate to its customers, the public, that it was continuing to provide best value in respect to its delivery of services.

The project also established Imerja as a preferred supplier to the Council, with additional work planned to provide professional services and assistance in the definition and negotiation of the SLA requirements for the proposed managed service.